Immersion heater for bituminous materials and the like



Jan. 2, 1940. G. P. KITTEL 2,135,594

IMMERSION HEATER FOR BITUMINOUS MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 17,1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

/wu Y @625 ATTORNEYS a. P; KITTEL Jan. 2, 1940.

IMIERSION HEATER FOR BITUMINOUS MATERIALS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 17, 1937 INVENTOR: eBJlv'ZteZ 6 30) 4 6M PW ATTQRNEYQPatented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIE-RSION HEATER FORBITUMINOUS MA- TERIALS AND THE LIKE George 1?. Kittel, Englewood, N. J.

Application November 17, 1937, Serial No. 175,045

2 Claims.

0 introducing heat through a flue extending through the container whichis removably bolted in place.

While greater efficiency is obtained from the flue type heating means,due to the more rapid heating and melting of the materials in proportionto the amount of heat expended, it has been open mainly to the objectionthat considerable difficulty is experienced in cleaning the flue andreceptacle, due to the fact that materials of the character enumeratedtend torapidly foul or coke the heating surfaces, and the labor involvedin the. frequent removal of the flue for cleaning has proven such adisadvantage that its use has been materially limited and many havereturned to the old practice of applying heat to the outside of ordinarycontainers.

The present invention comprehends an improved heating apparatus of theindicated character, either as a unit applicable to any type ofreceptacle for melting materials or in combination with a particulartype of receptacle with means for detachably connecting the samethereto.

More particularly the invention is concerned with an immersion heaterfor melting bituminous materials or the like in an open top receptaclewhich is so constructed and arranged so as to facilitate and expeditethe emplacement of the immersion heater within the receptacle and itsremoval from the receptacle whereby when separated the surfaces of theheater and receptacle may be readily cleaned and freed from thematerated from the burner element and when removed from the receptacle.

With the above enumerated and other objects in view, the invention isset forth in greater detail in the following specification, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, disclosing one way in which the inventionmay be carried into practice, while the appended claims cover variationsor modifications falling within the scope of the invention. 30

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a heating apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention.

approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken ap- 20 proximately on theline 4-4 of Fig. 2. a

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the burner element used in conjunctionwith the heater.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, I0 designates areceptacle of the open top type adapted to receive the materials to beheated and melted and which may be provided with an outlet cock H fordrawing off the melted material.

The apparatus for heating and melting the materials comprises a coverpanel l2 of sheet metal which isadapted to be supported upon the upperedge of the receptacle adjacent to one end thereof. The cover panel isformed with a substantially central opening l3 from which a well l4depends, the said well being open at the top and provided withcontinuous side walls l5 and a bottom Hi. The side wall facing theremote end of the receptacle Ill is formed with an opening H to which isattached one end of the tubular lead ii of aflue unit which extendshorizontally therefrom towards the remote end of the receptacle, saidlead having communication with the interior of the Well at its juncturetherewith.

One or more reversely directed tubular flue leads IS, in the presentinstance two being shown, are connected to and communicate at one endwith the remaining end of the flue lead l9 by branch conduits 20. Theleads l9 extend towards the well HI and are provided with upwardlydirected outlet terminals 2| which extend through openings in the coverpanel l2. In order to space the flue leads and the bottom It from thewalls of the receptacle so that the material being heated and meltedwill completely surround the heating apparatus in which it is immersed,feet 22 are formed on and depend from the flue leads i9.

The heating apparatus further includes a burner 23 of a type whichprojects a directed flame such as the vaporizing torch type, and whichreceives its fuel supply through a tubular conduit 24 extending upwardlytherefrom, through the open top of the well It, the burner beingprovided with a supporting base 25 which is adapted to rest upon thebottom wall l6 of the well ll so as to project the flame through theopening l1 and longitudinally of the flue lead l8. The burner is,therefore, removably located within the well I4, which serves as ahousing therefor, and may be separated from the remainder of the heatingapparatus to facilitate handling of the device and cleaning of the sameto free the surfaces of the material which adhere thereto.

In the present instance, the receptacle I0 is provided with inwardlyprojecting lugs 26 having threaded apertures for receiving the setscrews 2! which are rotatably carried by the cover panel I2 therebyaffording means for removably securing the heating apparatus in placewithin the receptacle. The set screws also serve as a means to rigidlyimpinge the feet 22 against the inner surface of the wall of thereceptacle. If desired, the uncovered open top of the receptacle l0 maybe closed by means of a cover member 30 having a flanged margin 3|fitting upon the upper edge of the receptacle I 0, while one of theflanged margins 3| rests upon the cover panel l2 and is slotted toreceive the apertured lug 32 provided on the cover panel l2. In order tobrace the cover panel, angle braces 33 may be provided which extendlaterally and upwardly from opposite side walls i5 of the well It. Tofacilitate lifting and handling of the heating unit, a handle 34 ispreferably provided on the branch conduits 20 which join and establishcommunication between the flue leads l8 and I9.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for heating and melting bituminous materials including incombination an open top receptacle for said materials, and a removableimmersion heating unit comprising a cover panel provided with an openingand adapted to be supported on the top oi the receptacle adja cent oneend thereof, an open top housing secured at its upper end to the coverat the opening and depending therefrom, a flue having a lead secured toand communicating atone end with the lower 5 portion of said housing andextending substantially horizontally towards the remote end of thereceptacle, a pair of horizontally disposed reversely directed sideleads communicating at one end with the remaining end of the first leadand extending substantially horizontally therefrom towards the housing,an upwardly directed exhaust terminal at the remaining end of each sidelead extending upwardly through and secured to said cover panel, and ajet-type burner having a directed flame adapted to be positioned in saidhousing so that the flame is directed into and longitudinally of saidfirst-mentioned flue lead.

2. Apparatus for heating and. melting bituminous materials including incombination an open top receptacle for said materials having a removablecover extending from one end towards and spaced from the other end ofsaid receptacle, and a removable immersion heating unit comprising acover panel provided with an opening and adapted to be supported on thetop of the receptacle at and covering the uncovered end thereof, an opentop housing secured at its upper end to the cover at the opening anddepending therefrom, a flue having a lead secured to and communicatingat one end with the lower portion of said housing and extendingsubstantially horizontally towards the remote end of the receptacle, areversely directed lead communicating at one end with the remaining endof the first lead and extending substantially horizontally towards thehousing, an upwardly directed exhaust terminal at the remaining end ofsaid reversely directed lead extending upwardly through said coverpanel, a jet-type burner having a directed flame 0 adapted to bepositioned in said housing so that the flame is directed into andlongitudinally of said first-mentioned flue lead, and cooperating meansprovided respectively on said receptacle,

the cover therefor. and on the cover panel for detachably connecting thesame in assembled relation.

GEORGE P. KI'I'I'EL.

